Tsai Ing-Wen

A Victory For Taiwanese Labor And A Defeat For The DPP?

Brian Hioe
Was today a victory for organized labor in Taiwan and a defeat for the DPP? In the end, following a grueling day of protest which began at 9 AM and saw no less than three attempts to storm the Legislative Yuan, the committee meeting in which planned changes to the Labor Standards Act were to be reviewed was cancelled. But what now for attempts to stop these changes from being passed into law?...
EnglishLaborNovember 2017Social Movements7 min read

Intensive Protests Against Planned Changes To Labor Laws, More Protests Planned For Night

Brian Hioe
It has been a chaotic day of protest both inside and outside the Legislative Yuan. With the review of planned changes to the Labor Standards Act scheduled for today and the changes set to take effect in the next few months after passing this review, it was anticipated by many that today would be a day of intensive protests against the DPP attempting to force these changes into law. And indeed, protests today have been intensive, seeing multiple attempts to storm the Legislative Yuan, with more protests planned for night...
EnglishLaborNovember 2017Social Movements8 min read

Despite Occurring Under Ma Administration, KMT Attempts To Pin Ching Fu Scandal On DPP

Brian Hioe
The Ching Fu scandal continues to unfold, regarding the suspicious circumstances in which a 35.8 billion NTD contract was awarded to the Ching Fu Corporation to construct minesweepers for the navy, something it later proved unable to do. The KMT has taken the unusual tactic of trying to pin a scandal that occurred under Ma Ying-Jeou onto the DPP, however...
EnglishNovember 2017Politics6 min read

Ching Fu Scandal Has Far-Reaching Implications For Ma Administration Officials

Brian Hioe
Questions of corruption at Taiwan’s highest levels of government under the Ma administration have been raised with regards to the Ching Fu loan scandal, in which a 35.8 billion NTD contract was awarded to the Ching Fu Corporation to construct six minesweepers for the navy, as well as provided with a 20.5 billion NTD syndicated loan. However, it was announced last week that Ching Fu had defaulted upon its loan and that Ching Fu would be unable to complete the minesweeper contract, raising suspicions regarding why the contract and loan were given to Ching Fu to begin with...
EnglishNovember 2017Politics6 min read

Will William Lai’s Popularity Last?

Brian Hioe
One of the ironies of William Lai taking power as premier in September would be that, as one of the most popular politicians in Taiwan, it will be a question going forward if luster attached to Lai’s name will last. Although Lai likely remains one of Taiwan’s most popular politicians, this would be the realities of taking power on the national stage...
EnglishOctober 2017Politics6 min read